Take-up hose reeling equipment



Aug. 9, 1949. E. E. MARTIN TAKE-UP HOSE REELING EQUIPMENT v Filed may 1v, 1948 nnnnnnMnnVnnnnnnnulnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnlwl nnnnnnn w, y. T n l Mm m \..l T E nn y. w M W my s a Aug. 9, 1949. E. E. MARTIN TAKE-UP HOSE REELING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1948 ./AQNESTEMARr/M INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 TAKE-UP HOSE REELING EQUIPMENT Earnest E. Martin, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Universal Properties, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 17, 1948, Serial No. 27,447

19 Claims. 1

This invention/'has to do with improvements in flexible line reeling mechanisms, and particularly automatic take-up hose reels so constructed and accommodated as to be highly advantageous for automobile service station use. More specically, the invention is directed to improvements in the mechanisms disclosed in my earlier application lSerial Number 786,418, led November 17, 1947, on Reeling mechanism, and my copending application Serial Number 17,302, filed March 26, 1948.

The present type of line reeling device comprises a winding drum mounted for both rotational and axial movements, preferably by associating the drum with a nut carried by a screw shaft, the pitch of which is such that the nut vtravels along the shaft in response to pressure applied axially to the nut or drum. This type of mechanism is particularly advantageous as applied to service station hose reeling. in that it permits accommodation of the drum within a housing adaptable also for the support of other equipment, and permits winding and paying out of the hose at a single location through the housing wall.

One of my major objects is to provide for actuation of the winding drum throughout its length of axial travel, by spring thrust applying to the drum a winding force in that axial displacement of the drum in a hose unwinding direction occurs against Ithe spring resistance. Particularly contemplated in connection with the drum actuation, is the use of a single. spring, or plural springs, interposed axially between the drum and its housing and operable to fully and quickly wind the hose. Where plural springs are used, initial winding displacement of the drum may occur, for the most part under the influence of a stronger spring, while final travel of the drum at the desired rate is effected by the thrust of a precompressed weaker spring.

A further object is to provide a novel actuating spring and dru-m association according to which I employ a coil spring carried about the screw Ashaft and resisting displacement along the shaft of the nut and drum. The spring characteristics and action may be so predetermined as to enable the spring to impart quick initial winding acceleration to the drum. and continued thrust throughout its take-up range to assure active final winding of the hose.

Assurance ofminimum frictional resistance to smooth take-up of the hose throughout its winding range, is given by an improved guide roller arrangement, the latter having the further feature of being so associated with the drum housing and a side closure, as to permit convenient removal of the hose for accommodation of its free end within the housing, when the closure is opened.

Further contemplated is a novel association of a column serving as a housing for one or more hose reeling units, and as a support for a utility box at the top, the relation of the parts giving a particularly compact arrangement with respect to the entire equipment accommodated in a struc- -ture of given height.

The invention has various additional features and objects such as the drum and shaft mounting, the hose supply connection andits association with the drum, and various other improvements, all of which together with the details of an illustrative embodiment will be understood to better advantage from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the hose winding mechanism housing and utility box assembly in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper portion of the housing and showing the water hose winding mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a similarview taken through the lower portion of the housing and showing the air hose winding unit, lthis view representing a variational embodinient in that the drum is actuated by a plural spring arrangement;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the swivel joint at the bottom of the lower winding unit shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

- Fig. 6v is a fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2. v

As typically embodied in a water and air dispensing assembly for service station use; the in vention is shown to comprise a tubular column III supported on an appropriate base II and carrying the utility box structure generally indicated at I2, the column serving as a housing for the water and air hose winding mechanisms I3 and I4 individually illustrated respectively in Figs. 2 and 3. Since the particular construction of the two hose winding units I3 and I4 is the same, corresponding parts in each are given the same reference characters.

Referring first to Fig. 3, each unit comprises a screw shaft I5 in axial alinement with the housing I0 and carrying a. nut I6 which travels vertically on the shaft in response to winding and unwinding of the hose. templated that the shaft and nut may have any desired formation, it will sumce to describe the screw shaft i5 as comprising a base shaft I1 to which is applied a preformed spiral thread I8, the turns of which are maintained in accurately spaced relation by a spirally wound spacer band I9. Similarly, the nut I6 comprises a cylindrical shell 2U within which is inserted a preformed spiral thread 2|. the turns of which are separated by a spiral spacer ribbon 22. Rotation of the nut about and along the shaft is facilitated by the placement of ball bearings 23 within the nut between the shaft and nut threads, displacement of the ball bearings out of the nut being prevented by suitable means, such as pins 24 and 25. It may be mentioned at this point that the pitch of the shaft and nut threads I8 and 2| is made sufllciently great that force applied axially of the nut will cause it to rotate along the shaft. Merely as an illustration, the thread pitch or lead on a shaft of diameter at the base of the threads, may be about 2%",

The nut I6 carries a winding drum 26, preferably corrugated in conformance with the spiral convolutions of the hose 21 or 28, the drum being integrated with the nut as by a body of lead 29 solidied against the nut shell 20 and the inside corrugated surface of the drum. 'Ihe size or diameter of the contacting hose convolutions or turns are made to correspond with the shaft thread pitch in such relation that upon one complete revolution, the drum and nut will travel axially of the shaft a distance corresponding to the center spacing of the hose convolutions, thus permitting the hose to be pulled from or fed to While it is cony the drum at a single or fixed location longitudinally of the shaft and drum assembly.

Air is supplied to the hose 21 from line 30 connecting with a swivel fitting generally indicated at 3|, see Fig. 4. The fitting comprises a stationary section 32 seated within an opening 33 in the base Il, and a swivel section 34 rotatable about the reduced diameter portion 35 of section 32. Shaft I5. supported at its lower end by reception in its end bore 36 of the pin end 31 of the fitting section 32. The swivel section 34 contains seal rings 38 at opposite sides of an annular recess 39 which receives air from line 3l through passages 46 and 4I, the air being discharged from recess 39 through turns of flexible tubing 42 connecting with the hose 21. The upper end of the shaft I5 is supported by screw 43 threaded into the shaft and having beyond the head 44 an end projection 45 received within opening 46 in the stationary housing partition 41. Screw 43 is held in the illustrated position' by tightening the lock nut 48 against the end of the shaft. But regardless cf the lock nut, screw 43 may be turned out of the plate opening 46 to free the shaft and drum assembly for removal from the housing.

The upper winding unit I3 is provided with a bottom swivel fitting 46, similar to the described tting 3l. and which is releasably seated within the parts opening 46, Water is supplied to the fitting by way of pipe 49 which may be run up within the housing from the base, or as shown in Fig. 3. Shaft I5a of the upper unit is releasably secured to the top housing plate 56 by screw attachment at 43a similar to the previously described screw 43 and nut 44.

Upward displacement of the winding drum I4 and nut I6 is resisted by coil spring means 5I surrounding the shaft I6, which according to the showing of Fig. 3 may comprise upper and lower coil springs 52 and 63 respectively stronger and weaker in resistance to axial compression. Spring 53 is confined between the lead mass 23 and the lower race ring 64 of a roller bearing assembly 65 including also the upper ring 66 and ball bearings 51. Compressibility of spring 63 is limited by the engageability of ring 54 with the end of a stop sleeve carried by the drum and nut assembly. Spring 62 is confined between ring 56 and keeper 59 which is threaded at 63A on the shaft for adjustment axially thereof to vary the compression range, and therefore theresistance and thrust of the coil springs, within the operative range of the drum travel.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the drum may be actuated throughout its hose winding travel by a single coil spring 62, the characteristics and properties of which may be selected to enable the spring to exert against the drum a sufficiently strong thrust toward the end, as well as the starting of the reeling-in movement, as to assure rapid and complete spooling of the hose. Here, rotation of the drum about the spring is permitted by engaging the lower end of the spring against the roller bearing assembly 63,

While it is possible to transmit the drum rotation to the upper section 34 of the swivel fitting 3i by way of the bottom turns 21a or 23a of the .hose itself, aided by the effect and reinforcement given the hose as by an internal resilient wire 64, it is preferred to transmit the drum rotation to the swivel section independently of the hose. For this purpose, the fitting sleeve 34 may be attached at 65 to a spiral flat section element 66 attached at 61 to the drum, the -form oi' the element permitting sufficiently positive transmission of force from the drum to the swivel section, while allowing axial movement of the drum throughout its range of travel.

The housing Ill has a pair of side doors 63 and 69 with hinges at 10, see Fig. 5, the free edges of the doors carrying projections 1I which receive the housing-carried keepers 12 through which locks may be inserted. The hoses 21 and 2l enter ets 16 fitted' within the square cross section wall 11 of the housing, and an upper roller 13 supported by its bracket 19. A lower roller 33 is.

carried by bracket 8| secured to a stationary support 82 carried by and projecting outwardly from housing I0 directly beneath the door. Rollers 15 are recessed at 83 intermediate their ends. to permit wide angle horizontal deflection of the hose from the housing, while imposing such low frictional resistance to movement of the hose as to assure its take-up from whatever degree the hose may have been horizontally deflected. Rollers 18 and 60 of course confine the hose vertically, giving free-rolling support.

Under conditions of service use. the air hose 23 will carry at its outer end a tting, such as the conventionally illustrated air valve 33|, for control of the tire air delivery, and may carry also .a bumper 84 engageable against the guide as sembly 13. As will be understood, the water hose 21 may carry the usual water dispensing valve or faucet. At such times as the service station is closed, it is desirable that the hoses and their dispensing end fittings be locked within the hous- I 15 and 18, while rollers 88 remainstationarily mounted on the housing. The hoses then may be withdrawn downwardly between the rollers 15 and inserted, with their end fittings, within e the housing I and inside the compartments 86 above the winding drums. Then when again closed, the doors 68 may be locked to prevent access to the interior of the housing.

At this point it may be observed that when door I8 is opened, the vertical extent of its housing opening is suilicient to permit a withdrawal of the lower unit Il, upon loosening of the stud 48 and disconnection of the line 38, as previously explained. When the upper door 88 is opened and cash box ,assembly |2 removed from the housing, the exposed vertical extent of the housing opening 81 is suiliclent to permit removal of the upper unit I3.

Referring now to the mounting of the cash box l2, the latter is shown to comprise a lower section I2a having a top plate 88 secured by bolt 89 to plate 50 in the top of the'housing lll, and having side walls 90 depending below and about the top portion of the housing column. Section |2a may also have a bottom wall 9| containing the opening 82 for reception of the housing column. At opposite sides of the column, walls 8l" carry integrally formed receptacles 93 for service station utilities of various sorts.Y The upper section |2b of the assembly I2 constitutes the cash box proper, having a bottom 9| supported on the lower section top plate 88, and preferably so associated therewith that section |217 may be separately removed, leaving the lower section |2a attached to the' housing column.

Further provision may be made forassuring accurate guided relation between 'the hose and drum at the location at which the hose passes from the drum to the guide assembly 1 8. lReferring to Figs. 3 and 5, a stationary guide, generally indicated at |00, comprises a bracket IM secured to the inside surface of the housing I8, and having an upper guide ange |82 and a lower guide projection |03, both of which project inwardly of the housing sulciently to prevent vertical displacement of the hose from retained alinement with the spiral recess in the drum surface. If displaced outwardly toward the housing, the hose is guided by engagement with a small cylindrical roller |04 carried by the bracket between the top and bottom guides |82 and |03.

I claim:

1. A reeling mechanism comprising a winding drum, a mounting permitting. rotational and axial movement of the drum, and a pair of springs operable sequentially to exert axial force against and displace the drum rotationally land axially throughout a predetermined range of winding travel.

2. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing having an opening for passing the hose, a winding drum to carry the hose and mounted in said housing for rotational and axial movement to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose through said opening, and a pair of springs operable sequentially to exert axial force against and displace the drum rotationally and axially throughout a predetermined range of winding travel.

v3. A reeling mechanism comprising a screw shaft, a nut on the shaft, a .winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with `the nut.

the drum and nut being rotatable and movable longitudinally of the shaft in response to force applied axially of the drum and nut, and a coil spring surrounding the shaft and acting to apply 5 said force, the drum being displaceable from a starting position to compress said spring upon rotation of the drum in an unwinding direction and the spring then acting to return the drum to said starting position.

4. A reeling mechanism comprising a screw shaft, a nut on the shaft, a winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut, the drum and nut being rotatable and movable longitudinally of the shaft in response to force applied axially of the drum and nut, and a pair of relatively rotatable coil springs surrounding the shaft and acting sequentially to apply force to the drum axially thereof.

5. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing having a hose passing opening, a screw shaft extending longitudinally within the housing, a nut on the shaft, a hose winding drum surrounding the shaft and rigidly connected with the nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose at the fixed location of said opening, and a coilspring surrounding the shaft and applying to the nut and drum axial force imparting rotaltional and axial movement thereto in a take-up direction.

6. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a' tubular housing having a hose passing opening, a screw shaft extending longitudinally within the housing, a nut on the shaft, a hose winding drum 3:, surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose at the fixed location of said opening, and a pair of coil springs surrounding the shaft and operin able sequentially to apply to the nut and drum axial force imparting rotational and axial movement thereof in a takeup direction.

7. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing having a hose passing opening, a screw shaft extending longitudinally within the housing, a nut on the shaft, a hose winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the 5o hose at the fixed location of vsaid opening, means comprising a spring surrounding the shaft and operable to apply to the nut and drum longitudinally of the drum axis a force imparting rotational and axial movement thereof in a hose take-up direction, said spring rotating with the nut and drum.

8. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing having a hose passing opening, a screw shaft extending longitudinally within the housing, a nut on the shaft, a hose winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose at the fixed location of said opening, a coil spring surrounding the shaft and acting to apply to the drum axial force imparting rotational and axial movement thereto in a take-up direction, and adjustable means for variably compressing said spring to regulate the spring force transmitted to nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose at the fixed location of said opening, spring means for applying to the drum axial force imparting rotational and axial movement thereto in a take-up direction, and mountings releasably retaining both ends of said shaft in the housing to permit removal of the shaft from the housing.

10. A reeling mechanism comprising a winding drum, a mounting supporting the drum for both rotational and axial movements, and a spring exerting against the drum in a direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force acting to impart rotational and axial movement thereto.

11. A reeling mechanism comprising a hose winding drum, a mounting supporting the drum for both rotational and axial movement of the drum, a spring exerting against the drum in a direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force acting to impart rotational and axial movement thereto, a fitting part rotatable with the drum for supplying fluid to a hose carried by the drum, and a conduit connected to said swivel part and bodily rotatable with the drum for supplying fluid to hose wound on the drum, said conduit flexing between the tting and drum in accordance with the axial travel of the drum.

12. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a hose-carrying winding drum movable axially within a predetermined range of travel according to the length of the hose, a mounting supporting the drum for both rotational and axial movements, spring means operable to exert against the drum and in a direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force ldisplacing the drum axially throughout said range, and a flexible conduit bodily rotatable with the drum and longitudinally deectible in accordance with the drum travel and through which uid is supplied to the hose.

13. A reeling mechanism comprising a winding drum, a mounting supporting the drum for both rotational and axial movements, and a spring for exerting against the drum in a direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force acting to impart rotational and axial movement thereto, said drum being axially displaceable from a starting position to compress said spring upon rotation of the drum in a hose unwinding direction and the spring then acting to return the drum to said starting position.

14. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing having an opening for passing the hose, a winding drum to carry the hose and mounted in said housing for rotational and axial movement to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose through said opening, and spring means positioned in longitudinal alinement with the drum within the housing and exerting against the drum and in a direction longitudinally oi' the drum axis a force imparting rotational and axial movements thereto in a hose take-up direction.

15. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a housing having an opening for passing the hose, a winding drum to carry the hose and mounted in said housing for rotational and axial movement to permit withdrawal and take-up ofthe hose through said opening, spring means positioned in longitudinal alinement with the drumwithin the housing above the drum and exerting against the drum in a downward direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force imparting rotational and axial movement thereto in a take-up direction.

16. A reeling mechanism comprising a, screw shaft, a nut on the shaft, a winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut, the drum and nut being rotatable and movable longitudinally of the shaft in response to force acting in the direction of the drum axis, and a spring received within the drum and applying to the nut and drum in a direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force imparting both rotational and axial movements to the drum.

17. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing having a hose passing opening, a screw shaft extending longitudinallywithin the housing, a nut on the shaft, a hose winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose at the ilxed location of said opening, the thread pitch of the screw shaft being suillciently great that the drum is movable by endwise pressure both rotationally and axially, and spring means exerting against the nut and drum in a direction longitudinally of the drum axis a force acting to impart rotational and axial movements thereto in a hose take-up direction.

18. A hose reeling mechanism comprising a tubular housing, having a hose passing opening, a screw shaft extending longitudinally within the housing, a nut on the shaft, a hose winding drum surrounding the shaft and associated with the nut for rotational and axial movement therewith to permit withdrawal and take-up of the hose at the fixed location of said opening, a coil spring extending about the shaft above and within the drum and applying to the drum in a direction longitudinally of its axis a force imparting rotational and axial movements thereto in a hose take-up direction, a swivel iluid supply fitting at the lower end of the shaft below the drum, and a flexible conduit bodily rotatable with the drum and longitudinally deflectible in accordance with the drum travel, said conduit being connected to said swivel and drum to supply fluid to the drum-carried hose.

19. A reeling unit, comprising in combination a shell having a lateral opening, a spooling drum in the shell, a flexible element spoled on the drum and having a portion extending through the opening exteriorly of the shell, cooperating screw and nut means mounting the drum for helical movement along the axis of the drum, means including a coil spring positioned coaxially of the drum and acting on the drum to translate the drum endwise and thereby cause the screw and nut means to rotate it in a direction to spool the flexible element on the drum, the force applied by the spring increasing with the length' of flexible element unspooled from the drum.

EARNEST E. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,304 Metzger May 3, 1887 551,331 Gray Dec. 10, 1895 599,771 Devereaux Mar. 1, 1898 1,153,188 Block Sept. 14, 1915 1,458,115 Caldwell June 5, 1923 1,683,911 Morris Sept. l1, 1928 2,181,521 Reade Nov. 28, 1939 2,193,288 Liley Mar. 12, 1940 2,334,141 Zierden Nov. 9, 1943 

